SalemNews.com, Salem, MA--Sports

Bill Kipouras: Gravel has a bullish time at Madrid Marathon

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Bill Kipouras
He originally thought the Madrid Marathon was in the fall, like October.
So Nate Gravel of Peabody headed for Madrid with a mindset that he was to train for just the month of September, then give the marathon a whirl.

Lax Lowdown column: Gendreau comfortable scoring goals all over the North Shore

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:10:00 EDT

Lax Lowdown
Matt Jenkins
Ryan Gendreau's lacrosse career has been a virtual ping-pong match of stops on the North Shore.
A Danvers resident, Gendreau began playing lacrosse as a third grader in the Peabody Youth Lacrosse League because Danvers didn't have a program at the time. He continued playing at the Glen Urquhart School in Beverly while in junior high, and has been a contributing member of the Hamilton-Wenham varsity team since his freshman year of high school — despite still living in Danvers.

James scores 21, Cavs even series with Celtics

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:09:00 EDT

CLEVELAND — Back to even, and back to Boston — with authority.
LeBron James scored 21 points, jamming in a powerhouse dunk over a defenseless Kevin Garnett in the final two minutes, as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the homesick Celtics 88-77 in Game 4 last night to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:09:00 EDT

TODAY'S SPORTS
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Winthrop at Peabody; Newburyport at Hamilton-Wenham; Amesbury at Ipswich; Mascnomet at Lynnfield; North Shore Tech at Lynn Tech.

Hernandez pitches Twins past Red Sox

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:08:00 EDT

MINNEAPOLIS — Minutes into the game, Livan Hernandez and the Minnesota Twins watched another ball sail over the wall for the other side.
Boston's Manny Ramirez made it a league-most 42 home runs allowed by the Twins, who just shrugged off the early deficit and went back to playing the way they always have.

Prep laxmen clinch share of Catholic Conference title

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:12:00 EDT

DANVERS — Talent. Intensity. Winning tradition.
If you were to make a list of all the things the Xaverian lacrosse team has, you'd start with those three qualities.
What the Hawks don't have — after St. John's Prep shot out to a three-goal halftime lead with a strong second quarter, then held on for a tense 10-9 victory at Cronin Field — is a shot at winning the outright Catholic Conference title.

Pingree secures EIL title

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:00:00 EDT

BASEBALL
A big first inning was the perfect scenario for a Pingree team that desperately wanted to achieve its first goal of the season Saturday afternoon.
The Highlanders scored four times in the first and held on for a 6-3 win over Berwick Academy to seal their 13th Eastern Independent League title in the last 15 years.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Mon, 12 May 2008 02:44:00 EDT

TODAY'S SPORTS
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Peabody at Beverly; Salem at Lynn English (7); Swampscott at Danvers (7); Saugus at Marblehead; Malden Catholic at St. John's Prep; Bishop Fenwick at Austin Prep.

Bill Kipouras: Tampa Bay backs off on Loyte

Mon, 12 May 2008 02:44:00 EDT

Bill Kipouras
Sean Stellato is finding out that doors shut quickly if you're a football agent and have a client who is a free agent.
Case in point: Gloucester's wide body tight end, Jonathan Loyte, who wasn't offered a contract after appearing at Tampa Bay's rookie orientation camp. He has the size (6-foot-5, 268 pounds) and speed and came out of Boston College after starting out at Vanderbilt. Loyte had a great career at St. John's Prep.

Twins belt three homers, beat up Wakefield in win

Mon, 12 May 2008 02:43:00 EDT

MINNEAPOLIS — So much for small ball.
Craig Monroe went 2-for-4 with two of light-hitting Minnesota's three home runs and four RBIs, and the Twins hung on for a 9-8 victory over the Boston Red Sox last night.

LONG DISTANCE CALL: Ipswich's Goolkasian runs 50 marathons in 50 states

Sun, 11 May 2008 23:11:00 EDT

Mike Goolkasian of Ipswich would never deny that he's a little obsessive.
Let's start with this: Goolkasian runs 150 miles per month, or 1,800 miles a year.
When he first caught the long distance bug 20 years ago, he completed three marathons in a month's time.

Papelbon can't close out Twins in 9t

Sat, 10 May 2008 01:27:00 EDT

MINNEAPOLIS — Mike Lamb was looking for a hit like this.
Jonathan Papelbon? He's not used to this.
The struggling Lamb lifted the Minnesota Twins past the Boston Red Sox 7-6 last night with a two-run single in the ninth inning against Papelbon, who blew his second consecutive save opportunity.

Softball greats highlight Bishop Fenwick's latest Hall of Fame class

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:41:00 EDT

DANVERS — On a night spent looking back, former Bishop Fenwick softball players Kristi Lyman and Mary Wells made attempts at predicting the future.
Lyman, Fenwick Class of 1995, and Wells, Class of '94, each played on four state championship softball teams during the Crusaders' state-record run of seven straight Division 1 titles between 1990-97. Both were among the inductees into Fenwick's latest Athletic Hall of Fame class at a ceremony held at Jimmy's Allenhurst last night.

Hamilton-Wenham laxmen make state tourney

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:40:00 EDT

BOYS LACROSSE
Hamilton-Wenham 15, Danvers 7
Hamilton-Wenham made the cut for the state tournament yesterday with a solid 15-7 win over Danvers. But according to Generals coach Jimmy LaSelva, earning a spot in the postseason was not the primary motivation against the Falcons.

Peabody connection fares well for Mount Ida laxmen

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:21:00 EDT

Jean DePlacido
When Matt Savage first started playing lacrosse in the seventh grade, he was also playing baseball. It wasn't until he got to Peabody High that he had to make a decision.
Savage chose lacrosse — and Mount Ida College is glad he did.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:20:00 EDT

Today
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Hamilton-Wenham at Triton (10 a.m.); Ipswich at Pentucket (10 a.m.); Pingree at Berwick (11 a.m.); Tyngsboro at Bishop Fenwick (1; completion of suspended game); Georgetown at Masconomet (2); Salem vs. Swampscott at New Salem State College Field (4); Arlington Catholic at Bishop Fenwick (4); Marblehead at Lynn English (4); Beverly at Danvers (7).

Sharks fare well at YMCA Nationals

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:20:00 EDT

The YMCA of the North Shore Sharks (YNS) sent 15 of its swimmers to the recent 2008 short-course YMCA Winter Nationals swim meet at the outdoor swimming Hall of Fame pool in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Of all of the events participated in by Sharks swimmers, more than 80 percent of those represented new personal bests.

Fast Pitches softball column: Cullen keeping Beverly loose, hungry

Fri, 09 May 2008 01:05:00 EDT

Fast Pitches
Mike Grenier
Senior second baseman Beth Cullen brings energy and enthusiasm to the Beverly High softball team.
The 18-year-old Cullen has a bubbly personality and a sense of humor that helps keep her team loose. She's also one of the captains and is hitting .594 with a team-high 16 RBIs, giving her considerable credibility and respect.

Beverly outlasts Swampscott in 12 inning marathon

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:53:00 EDT

BASEBALL
After battling for 12 innings — nearly the equivalent of two high school baseball games — something had to give between NEC rivals Swampscott and Beverly. Zak Levine made sure that the tide broke in favor of his Panthers.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:52:00 EDT

Today
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Salem vs. Saugus at Salem State; Winthrop at Peabody; Pingree at Rivers.
Softball — Salem at Saugus; Peabody at Winthrop; Amesbury at Masconomet; Concord at Pingree.

Phil Stacey column: A mother, a wife and the sporting life

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:52:00 EDT

Phil Stacey
This is a Mother's Day story about two women.
One has been a mother for almost 40 years, having raised three sons. She now has four (and counting) grandchildren, whom she dotes on at every opportunity.

Peabody police loaded with former gridsters

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:44:00 EDT

Bill Kipouras
Join the Navy, as the old saying goes, and see the world.
If you want to become a Peabody police officer, though, your chances are probably better if you played football at Peabody High.

Beckett strikes out 8, Youkilis homers again for Boston

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:43:00 EDT

DETROIT — In a matchup of hard-throwing right-handers, Boston's Josh Beckett got the best of Detroit's struggling ace, Justin Verlander. And Beckett reached a milestone along the way, too.
Beckett had eight strikeouts, including the 1,000th of his career, to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.

Pierce, Allen lead Celtics to Game 2 victory

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:43:00 EDT

BOSTON — Paul Pierce and Ray Allen found their shooting touch. LeBron James can only hope he left his in Cleveland.
Pierce scored 19 points, Kevin Garnett added 13 with 12 rebounds, and Allen broke out of a seven-quarter scoring drought with 16 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Cavaliers 89-73 last night and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Accomando sisters lead Beverly lax over Peabody

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:51:00 EDT

PEABODY — It may have been Senior Day for the host Peabody High girls lacrosse team yesterday at Donahue Field, but the day truly belonged to a pair of sisters from Beverly.
The Accomando sisters, senior Alyssa and sophomore Mary, combined for four goals and two assists to guide their Panthers to an 11-8 win over the Tanners.

Sports briefs

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:51:00 EDT

Radio Sports
New Peabody High football coach Scott Wlasuk will be one of the featured guests on tomorrow's "North Shore Sports Desk" on North Shore 104.9 FM between 8-9 a.m. In addition, Bishop Fenwick girls lacrosse scoring superstar Bridget Dullea, the state's leading goal scorer, will also be on the show, as will Danvers High baseball ace right-hander Bobby Dean and North Shore golf author Gary Larrabee. Bill Kipouras and Phil Stacey from The Salem News are the show's co-hosts.

On Baseball column: Experience, fundamentals drive Pingree

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:18:00 EDT

On Baseball
Matt Williams
SOUTH HAMILTON — Arguably the best kept baseball secret north of Boston, The Pingree School just keeps winning.
As the defending New England Small School champions, the Highlanders have racked up a total of 50 wins over the last three seasons.

Whitehill, Fallon homers boost Marblehead

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:15:00 EDT

SALEM — Marblehead High ace pitcher Courtney Colantuno strapped an ice pack on her right shoulder immediately after last night's game. She needed it.
Colantuno & Co. have played three games in three days and, in terms of competitiveness, the Salem Witches have played them as tough as anybody else in the Northeastern Conference. Fortunately for the Magicians, they had more than the usual incentive as the players' mothers rode the bus with the team to Mack Park for the second straight year. Marblehead is 2-0 in those games.

New youth football league storming into North Shore

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:14:00 EDT

For years, Lou Spano has been imagining a youth football league that doesn't discriminate because of weight, groups players by age, and fosters a strong respect for other North Shore programs.
Beginning this August, Spano's vision will become a reality when the Northeast Conference Youth Football League plays its inaugural season.

Tigers top Sox in rollercoaster game

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:13:00 EDT

DETROIT — Placido Polanco hit a broken-bat, tiebreaking single with two outs in the ninth off Jonathan Papelbon to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 10-9 win over the Boston Red Sox last night.
Boston had everything set up for its sixth straight win, rallying from a four-run deficit with its star closer on the mound. But Papelbon (2-1) blew his first save in 11 chances by allowing two unearned runs.

Sports briefs

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:35:00 EDT

Golf
The Mary Moulton/St. Mary's School in Beverly golf tournament will be held Monday, June 9 at the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club, with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. The fee is $135 per player, which includes greens fees, cart, dinner, prizes, a player gift bag and several holes-in-one. All proceeds will benefit the school. For registration or more information, please contact Rick Kelley at 978-922-1966.

Danvers' Lopez helps guide Tufts back into NCAA tournament

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:35:00 EDT

MEDFORD — Senior Danielle Lopez of Danvers blasted a 3-run home run to help lead the Tufts University softball team to its second straight New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title by walloping Wesleyan, 10-3.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:35:00 EDT

Today
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Pope John at North Shore Tech (3:45); Swampscott at Beverly; Marblehead at Lynn Classical; St. Peter Marian at St. John's Prep; Manchester-Essex at Hamilton-Wenham; Rockport at Ipswich; Masconomet at Amesbury; Danvers at Lynn English (7).

Around the Horn: All-for-one mentality works wonders for Beverly

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:30:00 EDT

Their strength lies in their seniors.
But two of their biggest contributors have been freshmen.
And they all live by one mantra: keep it simple, strive for consistency and stay mentally tough every time you take the field.

Longtime Tanner Wlasuk named Peabody football coach

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:29:00 EDT

As recently as a few months ago, Scott Wlasuk had never imagined he'd be the head football coach at Peabody High.
Whether it was during his four years as a player under the legendary Arthur Adamopoulos, during nearly 20 years as an assistant under Ed Nizwantowski or as an assistant last season with Dick Woodbury, sitting in the big chair was something that Wlasuk simply never considered.

Wakefield's eight shutout innings lift Sox

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:28:00 EDT

DETROIT — Tim Wakefield had his knuckleball working and that made the rest of his pitches that much more effective.
He only allowed two hits in eight shutout innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 5-0 win over the Detroit Tigers last night.

Area roundup: Scalise's late goal powers Prep lacrosse to big win

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:28:00 EDT

BOYS LACROSSE
After a tough, emotionally-draining setback against Duxbury, the state's top ranked team, on the road last Saturday night, John Roy wondered if his St. John's Prep lacrosse team would be able to match that same intensity yesterday when they took the field against Catholic Conference rival B.C. High.

Celtics tame LeBron, take series opener

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:26:00 EDT

BOSTON — LeBron James couldn't make a basket down the stretch — or at virtually any other time — and the Boston Celtics eked out a 76-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Catching Up With ... Fenwick girls lacrosse star Bridget Dullea

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:47:00 EDT

The Dullea File
Age: 16
High school: Bishop Fenwick
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Lacrosse
Position: Center attack and defense
Tell us about your historical varsity debut.

Sports briefs

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:47:00 EDT

Track & Field
Former Marblehead High great Shalane Flanagan has been named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week after setting an American record in the women's 10,000 meters with a time of 30:34.49 at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. Flanagan blew away Deena Kastor's 2002 record time by 17 seconds. Flanagan, an Olympian in 2004, is also the American record holder in the 3,000 meters (indoor) and the 5,000 meters.

Witches Cup coming back to Salem this summer

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:46:00 EDT

SALEM — The Witches Cup, Salem's cycling race, will return to Salem Common on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
In the cycling boom of the 1980s, Salem proudly hosted annual elite caliber bicycle events with national exposure. Until last year's reincarnation of the Witches Cup, the race was last held as part of the America Cup in 2000. Race organizers are working to revive Salem's strong bicycle racing tradition and make the Witches Cup an annual event.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:46:00 EDT

Today
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Salem at Marblehead; Beverly at Saugus; Catholic Memorial at St. John's Prep; St. Mary's at Bishop Fenwick; Portsmouth Abbey at Pingree; Lynn Classical at Danvers (7); Peabody at Swampscott (7).

Endicott earns No. 2 seed in NCAA tourney

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:05:00 EDT

Fresh off a sweep in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, the Endicott College softball team is the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division 3 regional and will play Keuka College of New York tomorrow (2 p.m.) in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Beverly works its magic on Marblehead

Tue, 06 May 2008 01:10:00 EDT

The Beverly girls tennis team rated with Marblehead and Swampscott among the Northeastern Conference teams to beat in the preseason. Beverly's title stock increased considerably yesterday.
The Lady Panthers, led by Sabrina Salmela, posted four two-set victories over previously unbeaten Marblehead in a 4-1 victory that boosted Beverly's perfect record to 8-0.

Salem News Sports Schedule

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:06:00 EDT

Today
(all events 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball — Masconomet at North Reading; Pentucket at Hamilton-Wenham; Ipswich at Newburyport; North Shore Tech at Shawsheen.

Norman's two homers power Marblehead past Beverly

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:05:00 EDT

MARBLEHEAD — Samantha Norman had never played third base at the varsity level before. But with her teammate, Northeastern Conference all-star Ashley White, out sick yesterday, Marblehead High softball coach Johnny Gold called on Norman, his junior left fielder, to take her place.

Croyle makes switch look easy

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:05:00 EDT

Lax Lowdown
Matt Jenkins
Julia Croyle has hardly had any time to mourn the end of her high school softball career.
Then again, you really can't afford to look back when hard rubber balls are being fired in your direction at frightening rates of speed.

Flanagan destroys American 10,000-meter record

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:04:00 EDT

Former Marblehead High track great Shalane Flanagan appears to have impeccable timing.
With the Olympic Games in Beijing, China coming up this summer, Flanagan blew away the American record in her 10,000-meter debut Sunday night at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.

Allison sharp again with nothing to show for it

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:03:00 EDT

Peabody's Jeff Allison has been downright brilliant this spring. With any luck, the Jupiter Hammerheads' righty might actually have something to show for it.
Allison pitched beautifully again last night, allowing one unearned run in five innings of work. He struck out four, walked two, and lowered his ERA to 1.60. He even left with a one-run lead, but he remains winless after the Tampa Yankees won with a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth for a 3-2 victory over Jupiter.

The fear is gone, but the wins are still there for Danvers

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:03:00 EDT

On Baseball
Phil Stacey
SALEM — Unlike the last nine seasons, opponents no longer have trepidation when they face the Danvers High baseball team.
But just because that fear factor when facing the Falcons no longer exists, it doesn't mean the Blue-and-White have forgotten how to beat virtually everyone they play.